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Green Commuting

WSU Libraries Staff Forum 3.13.2008 Joshua Neds-Fox

Green Commuting
“Any serious effort to address energy conservation must focus largely on transportation.” - Americans use more energy for transportation than for any other activity: 43% of U.S. energy resources. - For every passenger mile traveled, public transportation is twice as fuel efficient as private automobiles.

Green Commuting
Taskforce on Environmental Initiatives Transportation Subcommittee Recommendations:
- “Decrease the economic, environmental and public health impacts associated with heavy vehicle traffic to and from campus.” - “Reduce the number of miles that students, staff and faculty drive to the university by encouraging the use of convenient, economic, alternative transportation.”
http://www.livinggreen.wayne.edu/transportation.php

Green Commuting
Where you can live and still reasonably take the bus?
- The entire Woodward Corridor from Pontiac to Highland Park - Slightly east of there (Troy, Madison Heights, Hazel Park) - Roughly west of there (Farmington Hills, Bloomfield Twnship, Southfield) - Along the lakeshore from Macomb Mall (St. Clair Shores, Grosse Pointe)

Green Commuting
851: Will pick up from OCC Orchard Ridge (about an hour)
or Northland (45 minutes) Park and Ride and drop off on campus during Peak Hours (W: Farmington Hills or Bloomfield Township, Southfield)

Green Commuting
Carpooling – the alternative Alternative Transportation:
“Recent census data shows that more than 200,000 people in Metro Detroit currently share the ride to and from work on a regular basis.”
http://www.semcog.org/RideShare.aspx

Green Commuting
SEMCOG RideShare
http://www.semcog.com/rideshare.aspx - Fill out the application to find RideShare matches. - Contact matches to organize a new carpool or join an existing one. - Join Guaranteed Ride Home for free taxi service if you need to work unexpected overtime or have to leave work early.

Green Commuting
erideshare.com
http://wsu.erideshare.com group password: gullen
- A special group of erideshare carpool listings limited to riders looking for arrangements to and from WSU

Green Commuting
To sum up:
- Any serious plan to address energy consumption needs to start with transportation. - Detroit public transportation isn't as bad as you heard. - Carpooling is a viable option (especially if you live in Ferndale!) - Still unconvinced? Read more at:
http://www.apta.com/research/info/ online/ben_overview.cfm “The Benefits Of Public Transportation - An Overview” American Public Transportation Association, 2nd ed., 9/02
('Green Leaves' original at http://flickr.com/photos/denmar/147974952/)